The Proper Diagnosis of Thrombophilic Status in Preventing Fetal Growth Restriction

Abstract

Fetal growth restriction is an important part of monitoring a pregnancy. Because guidelines or diagnostic criteria for either minor or major thrombophilia are scarce, this systematic review aims to summarize the present knowledge in the field. We performed the CRD42022376006 protocol in Prospero with a systematic literature search in PubMed and Web of Science databases and included original full-text articles (randomized control trials and clinical trials) from the last 10 years, published in English, and with the “thrombophilia AND (pregnancy OR diagnostic criteria) AND fetal growth restriction” criteria. After two researchers extracted the articles of interest, they were assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale and eight articles were included. The elements from the thrombophilia diagnostic predict IUGR, factor V Leiden mutation, MTHFR C667T mutation, protein S deficiency, antithrombin deficiency, factor VII polymorphism, and antiphospholipid antibodies, while the association of protein C, PAI-1 and certain combinations of mutations are still under debate and require the collection of more data. The present systematic review provides an extensive picture of the actual knowledge about thrombophilia diagnosis and its links with pregnancy complications, such as intrauterine growth restriction, despite its limitation in the inclusion of other actually debated disorders such as PAI-1 mutation, protein C deficiency and other thrombophilia types.